Single-trigger fire mechanism for double-barrel guns



me. w. 1924. 1,519,589

E. E. MILLER SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS FiledMay 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Vi/e i Beg, 16, E924.

- 1,519,589 E. E. MILLER 7 SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLEBARREL GUNS Filed May 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47g 2 6 J wilt ng-01:11:4 67 ggunmmulm Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

I cam s'rAss ELMER MILLER, or MILLERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SINGLE-TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR- DOUBLE-BARREL GUNS.

Application filed-May 5, 1923.

T0 cZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IGLIiiER E. Miminn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Millersburg, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSingle-Trigger Fire Mechanisms for Double-Barrel Guns, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates tosingle trigger fire mechanisms for doublebarrel guns.

An ii'nportan-t object of the invention is to provide a device of thistype wherein the trigger mechanism may be set to fire either barrel andupon a second pull upon the trigger acting to fire the other barrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide in trigger mechanisms ofthis character a trigger having a primary and secondary movement whichis substantially continuous, the successive operation of the trigger ofthat type generally referred to as double firing being positivelyprevented by mechanism associatedwith and carried by the trigge' andoperated by. a rebound of the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inertiacontrol ofthis character which serves not only toprevent double firing byrecoilope-ration but which serves as a positive stop during the initialoperation of the trigger tolimit the movement thereof.

A further object of the-invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which both the trigger mechanism and operating mechanismfor the trigger mechanism are simplified to the greatest possibleextent.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination withmechanism of this character setting mechanism inoperable to effect achange of select-ion after one bari'el of the gun has been fired untilthe gun has been recocked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is extremely simple and which may be applied topractically all of those types of guns the sears of which are providedwith lugs overhanging the trigger mechanism by means of which they maybe tripped.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose-0t illus- Serial No.636,854.

tration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and Wl16r61IlI'-Figure 1 IS a side elevation of the breech mechanism of a. double barrelgun, the stock J being removed and parts being broken away, the gunbeing shown in position for firing the first barrel;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1, the gun beingshown. with the parts in solid lines in the position assumed afterfiring the first barrel and after the recoil from the shoulder, and indotted lines in the position assumed during the recoil of the gun fromthe-charge andafter the Figure 6 is a detached view of the trigger andcontrol mechanism showing the positions thereof'a-fter both barrels havebeen fired;- v I 1 Figure 7 is a sectional view takenthrough the triggercar r'iedcam or inertiacontrol member; and v I Figure 8. is-aperspective view of the control plate carried by the trigger. 1

Referring now more particularly to the cl'i'aa'viiigs, t lie numeral 10indicates a trigger plate of a breech mechanism, 11 a trigger mount-uponthe upper surface of" the plate embodying space-d arms-12 between whichextends the forward end of a trigger 13 havingits forward end pivoted tothese arms, as at 14, and operatingthrough a slot 15 formed in thetrigger plate. The numerals 16 and 17 designate sears extendingrearwardlyfrom the breech plates 18 to which they are pivot-ed andhaving their forward ends pressed upwardly by springs: 19,

that they'will engage against shoulders 20 formed upon-hammers! 21 whenthe-hanimore are cocked to hold these hammers in a cocked position. Theshoulders 20 are of the usual construction and the only change "forn'iedmade in the construction of the hammer is to provide the same, adjacentthe shoulders 20 thereof, with lugs 22 engaging the scars 16 and 17 whenthe hammer is in the tired position to hold the rear end of the searelevated a greater distance than it ordinarily would be. The numeral 23designates a vertically disposed plate secured to the trigger platercarw ardly of the trigger 13 upon which is pivoted a substantiallyvertical lever 24, the lower end of which extends adj acent the sideface of the rear end of the trigger and the upper end 26 of whichengages in the setting spring 27 of the setting plate 28 arranged-uponthe upper tang 29 0f the breech mevhanism. This setting plate is"operated in the usual manner and the spring 27 thereof is provided withthe usual latch end 30 co-acting with three spaced notches 31, 32 and33. hen the setting plate 28 is so positioned that the spring 27 thereofengages in the notch 3201 cent-rail notch, the iever is in what is knownas a neutral or safe position and when in this position the lo-ivefendof the lever is positioned imi'nedia-tely'" above alug 3+1. formed uponthe reareud of the trigger 13, preventing upward movement of this rearend and accordingly operation of the trigger. hen thg latch 30 of thesetting me3hanism spring 2i is engaged with either of the notches 31 or33, the lower end 25 of the lever 24: is out of alignment with the lug3+1 and the trigger is free to operate.

Slidablymounted upon the upper surface of the trigger 13 is a selectorplate 85, which plate is preferably of a thickness equal to the distancethrough which the rear end or lug 36 of a sear 16 or 17 must be moved torelease the forward end thereof from the shoulder 20 of its associatedhammer 21. The rear end of this plate is provided at one side with anotch 37 through which the lower end 26 of the lever 24 extends so thatshifting of the lever 24: will cause a moveiii'c'nti of the plate 35longitudinallyof the upper surface'of the trigger 13. The for ward end'ofjthe'plate is held against sidewise or vertical movement by reason ofthe fact "that it. engages between the arms 12 of the trigger li'iount11 and by reason of the fact that this mount has extending between thearms thereof a pin 38 overlying the upper surface'of' the select-orplate at its foiwvardendj Upon the rear end of the trigger aheaded stud39 is'mounted "which abuts against the opposite side of the plate 35from that bearing the notch 37 and preventsdisengagement of the platefrom the notch. The selector plate 35 has at" opposite side facesthereof uo'tches 10 and a l extending into the plate a "distance greaterthan the extent to which the'lugs 36 'of the sears 16 and 17 overhangthe trigger 13. These notches are staggered and the notch 10 is broughtinto alignment with the sear lug 36 of the sear 17 when the plate ismoved forwardly, this forward n'iovement being accon'iplished by movingthe setting plate 28 to bring the catch 30 of the spring 37 intoengagement with the notch 33. The notch 41 of the plate is brought intoalignment with the sear lug 3,6 of the sear 16 when the selector plate35 is moved roarwardly, this being accomplished by moving the settingplate 28 to bring the catch 30 into engagement with the notch 31.

The position assumed by the scars 1G and 17 when the hammers 21 arecocked is such that when the trigger is forced to its lowermost positionthe lower faces of the lugs thereof are in a plane represented by theupper surface of the plate 35. Accordingly, if a notch 4-0 or 41 isaligned with the lug 36 the other of the lugs which overlies the platewill be operated upon initial movement of the trigger, the second lugentering the notch with which it is aligned. Since the plate 35 is of athickness equal to the amount of distance through which the rear end ofthe sear 16 or 17 must be moved to release its forward end from theshoulder 20 of the associated hammer 21 and permit this hammer tooperate, by moving the trigger at the point of engagement of the searlugs 36 through a distance equal to the thickness of the plate 35, thatsear having its lug overlying the plate will be operated and itsassociated hammer released. After such operation the upper surface ofthe trigger will come into engagement with the second sear lug 36 andthe movement of the trigger will be checked. A second pull will resultin the operation of the second scar and of its hammer. It will beobvious that by shifting the plate to move the notch 40 or 41 beneathits associated lug 36 either barrel of the gun may be initially firedand the second barrel of the gun operated upon a further operation ofthe trigger. Attention is directed to the fact that when one barrel ofthe gun has been fired the elevation of the trigger resulting from suchfiring places the lug of the trigger either at one side or the other ofthe lever 24 associated with the safety mechanism and, accordingly, itwill be impossible for the safety mechanism to be shifted to effect achange of selection until the gun is again recocked and the triggerreturned to its lowermost position.

It will be obvious that with the mechanism above described providedalone it would be extremely difficult to prevent double Iir ing or thefire of both barrels of the gun in immediate succession, for the reasonthat the rebound of the gun from the shoulder of the shooter where ithas been forced dur ing the tiring of the first barrel by the explosionof the charge would tend to bring the trigger 13 against the finger ofthe operator to cause a further actuation of the trigger and accordinglyoperation of the second sear. In order to prevent this occurence I pivotupon the rear end of the trigger 13 a cam 42 which operates against oneside face of the vertical plate 23 hereinbefore referred to. The cam 42is provided upon its upper surface with an arcuately curved face 43which, as will hereinafter more fully appear, in all positions of themechanisms but one is operable to swing beneath a horizontally disposedlug 44 extending outwardly from the plate 23. To the cam 43 adjacent thepivot point thereof, as at 45, is secured one end of a spring 46, theopposite end of which is secured to the forward end of the plate 23, asat 47, this spring serving the combined functions of urging the cam 42forwardly and elevating the rear end of the trigger 13. The cam 42 isprovided adjacent its pivot with a tail 48 which engages against a stoppin 49 carried by the trigger plate as the trigger and cam are moveddown wardly. By this engagement the upper end of the cam is thrownrearwardly so that the arcuate face 43 thereof is arranged beneath thelug 44 of the plate 23. The cam is provided at the forward end of thisface with upwardly projecting ears 50 which limit its rearward movementand prevent the cam from swinging rearwardly too great a distance. Asecond lug 51 projects outwardly from the plate 23, this lug having itsrear face spaced from the forward face of the lug 44 a distance slightlygreat er than the width of the cam and serving as a stop to limitforward movement of the cam during recoil of action of the gun resultingfrom the firing of a charge therein.

The upper curved surface 43 of the cam has formed therein alongitudinally extending slot 52, :the rear end of which communicateswith a recess 53 in which is disposed a compress spring 54. In this slotis pivoted a latch member 55 having a tail 56 against which the spring54 abuts, the engagement of the spring with the latch member tending todepress the forward end 57 thereof. lVhen the cam is in the rearmostposition, as illustrated in .Figure l, the forward end 57 of the latch55 clears the lug 51 sufficiently to allow it to come into engagementwith the rear face of the lug with the result that the latch engagesagainst this rear face and holds the cam in the rearmost position untilthe trigger 13 is actuated to elevate the cam. During this actuation ofthe trigger the latch 55 releases to permit a sutficient upward movementof the rear end of the trigger to fire the first sear. During returnmovement of the cam from rebound from the shoulder of the shooter, thislatch wipes against the upper surface of the lug 51 and acts as a brakepreventing too rapid return movement of the cam.

In the operation of the gun, assuming the hammers to be cocked, aselection is effected through the setting plate 28. In the presentinstance I have illustrated the mechanism in Figures 1, 2 and 4inclusive as arranged to fire the right hand barrel initially and thenthe left handbarrel. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown inFigure 1, a pull imparted to the trigger will cause the right hand sear16 to be elevated and release its hammer 21 for operation. Upon pullingof the trigger and before the charge is fired, the parts assume theposition shown in solid lines in Figure 2, the surface 43 of the camcoming into positive engagement with the upper surface of the lug 44 andlimiting upward movement of the trigger beyond a point where the righthand sear 16 is released. Upon the charge being fired the recoil of thecharge will cause the cam 43 to be. thrown forwardly, its forwardmovement being limited by the lug 51. Following the recoil of the gunfrom the charge the rebound from the shoulder of the shooter will causethe gun to move forwardly, with the result that the cam 42 movesrearwardly, this rearward movement being to a certain extent checked bythe latch 55 in the manner hereinbefore described. The cam now returns:to a position similar to that shown in solid lines in Figure 2.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, during the recoilmovement of a gun, due to a firing of a charge therein,

the trigger separates from the finger so that no pressure is appliedthereto. During the rebound from the shoulder, however, following suchrecoil the trigger during its forward movement engages against thefinger and in the absence of a stop is forced rearwardly to fire thesecond barrel. During this rebound, as above stated, the cam is againpositioned beneath the lug i4 and accordingly when the finger engagesagainst the trigger the upward movement of the trigger will force thecurved surface 43 of the cam into engagement with this lug wheremovement of the trigger will be positively limited by the cam and doublefiring accordingly prevented. This surface of the cam being curved,however, the slightest release of the pressure of the finger against thetrigger 18 will permit the cam to release from the lug 44, so that it isdrawn forwardly by the spring 47 and again assumes the position shown inthe dotted lines in Figure 2. In this position the trigger is free tomove to perform the second firing operation, the cam moving upwardlybetween the lugs 44 and 51, as illustrated in Figure 3, during suchfurther m'oven'ient of the trigger." Attention 1s directed to the factthat since the position assumed by the cam upon pulling the trigger inthe primary movement thereof and the position assumed afterrebouud areidentical, the trigger upon its release will permit the cam to moveforwardly just as well in event of failure of firing of the first barrelit will if this barrel be fired andthe cam operated through the sequenceof movements above set forth. If the first barrelit'ails to fire, duetothe presence there- I in a selection is accomplished by a shiftsafeposition, if so. desired.

thermore be noted that I have provided a able lever which'iikewiseserves to positive ly lock the trigger against movement or in it willfurtrigger having means mounted thereon serv mg both as a positive stoplimiting the movement of the trigger during the initial firing operationand as a rebound operated mechanism for vreventin double firin [t willfurthermore be obvious that the structure of the various elements ashereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modificationwithout materially departing from the spirit of my invention and Iaccording-1y do not limit myself to such specitic structure except ashereinafter claimed.

1. In a doublebarrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having continuing primary and secondary movementsby means of which the hammers of the barrels are successively operated,a fixed stop carried by the breech mechanism, and an oscillatory recoilcam carried by the trigger and coacting with the stop to control thetrigger in said movements.

Q. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising :a trigger having continuing primary and secondary movementswhereby the hammers of the barrels are successively operated, a fixedbreech stop and a member carried by the trigger initially positioned toengage said stop to limit the primary movement of the trigger andsubsequently positioned by the rebound following the recoil of a firedcharge to again engagesaid stop to prevent arcidental secondary movementof the trig- .lhc spring a6, in addition to function ger by theengagement of the finger therewith during such rebound. I 3. In, adouble barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanism comprising a,

trigger having continuing primary and see- 'ondary movementswhereby thehammers of movement for shifting said cam'beneath said stop to engagewith said stop during pri" 'mary movement of the trigger.

- 4. In a double barrel gun provided With a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having a primary and secondary movement where-bythe hammers of the barrels are successively operated, said trigger beingshifted into position for its primary movement by the cocking of saidhammer, a stop carried by the breech mechanism, an oscillatory camcarried by the trigger, means engaged by the cam duringthe movement ofthe trigger .into position for, its primary movementfor shifting saidcam' beneath said stop to engage with said stop during primary movementof the trigger, and a spring holding the trigger elevated and movingsaid cam to a position permitting secondary movement of the trigger uponrelease of the trigger after such primary movement.

5. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trig ger having a primary and secondary movementwhereby thehammers of the barrels are successively operated, said trigger beingshifted into position for its primary move ment by the cocking of saidhammer, a stop carried by the breech mechanism, an oscillatory camcarried by the trigger, means en-- gaged by the cam during the movementof the trigger into posit-ion for its primary movement for shiftingsaidcam beneath said. stop to engage with said stop during primarymovement of the trigger, a spring holding the trigger elevated andmoving said cam 'to' a position permitting secondary movement of thetrigger upon release of the trigger after such primary movement, and astop limiting the movement of the cam an der influence of said spring.

6. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having a primary and secondary movement whereby thehammers of the barrels are successively operated, said trigger beingshifted into position for its primary movement by the cocking of saidhammer, a stop carried by the breech mechanism, an

oscillatory cam carried by the trigger, means engaged by the cam duringthe movement of the trigger into position for its primary movement forshifting said cam beneath said stop to engage with said stop duringprimary movement of the trigger, a spring holding the trigger elevatedand moving said cam to a position permitting secondary movement of thetrigger upon release of the trigger after such primary movement, a stoplimiting the movement of the cam under influence of said spring, andalatch carried by the cam and engaging the last named stop to preventshifting movement of the cam when the cam is shifted beneath the firstnamed stop by said means.

7. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having continuing primary and secondary movements.whereby the hammers of the barrels are successively operated, a membercarried by the trigger coacting with a part fixed to the breechinitially operating as a positive stop to limit the primary movement ofthe trigger and subsequently operated by the rebound following therecoil of a fired charge to prevent the secondary movement of thetrigger by the engagement of the finger therewith during such rebound,and a spring holding the trigger elevated and moving said cam to aposition permitting secondary movement of the trigger upon release ofthe trigger after such primary movement.

8. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having a primary and secondary movement whereby thehammers of the barrels are successively operated, said trigger beingshifted into position for its primary movement by the cocking of saidhammer, a plate extending adjacent the rear end of the trigger andhaving a pair of spaced stops extending outwardly therefrom, a campivoted tothe trigger, a spring normally moving the cam into engagementwith one of said stops and the trigger into elevated position, meansengaging the cam during the movement of the trigger into position forits primary movement for shifting said cam beneath the other of thestops to engage therewith during primary movement of the trigger, andmeans carried by the cam engaging the first named stop when the cam ispositioned beneath the last named stop under influence of said means tohold the cam against movement toward the first named stop.

9. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having a primary and secondary movement whereby thehammers or" the barrels are successively operated, said trig rger beingshifted into position for its primary movement by the cocking of saidhammer, a plate extending adjacent the rear end of the trigger andhaving a pair of spaced stops extending outwardly therefrom, a campivoted to the trigger, a spring normally moving the cam into engagementwith one of said stops and the trigger into elevated position, meansengaging the cam during the movement of the trigger into position forits primary movement for shifting said cam beneath the other of thestops to engage therewith during primary movement of the trigger, andmeans carried by the cam engaging the first named stop when the cam ispositioned beneath the last named stop under influence of said means tohold the cam against movement toward the first named stop, said meansyielding during primary movement of the trigger to permit itsdisengagement from the first named stop.

10. In a double barrel gun provided with a single trigger mechanismcomprising a trigger having a primary and secondary movement whereby thehammers of the barrels are successivelyv operated, a fixed breech stop,a member carried by the trigger initially positioned to engage said stopto limit the primary movement of the trigger and sul sequentlypositioned by the rebound following the recoil of a fired charge toagain engage said stop to prevent accidental second ary movement of thetrigger by the engage ment of the finger therewith during such rebound,a stop member limiting movement of the member under the recoil of afired charge, and means carried by the member and engaging said stopduring movement of the member under the influence of the rebound tobrake the movement of the member.

11. In a double barrel gun, a single trigger mechanism comprising atrigger hav ing continuing primary and secondary movements whereby thehammers of the barrels are successively operated, including a slidablyshiftable selector plate mounted upon the upper surface of the triggerfor determining which hammer is initially operated, a pivoted leverslidably engaging one side of said trigger. a lug carried by the triggerand above which the lower end of the lever is positionable when thetrigger is in the lowermost position, a connection between the plate andlever whereby the plate shifted when the lever is shifted, and meansdisposed exteriorly of the breech for shifting said lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ZU fiX my signature.

ELMER E. MILLER.

